The Sprout
Rockin’ around the Covid Christmas Tree
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 153 Winter 2020
The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Dir e c t o r s: J a n e t Bart l a m , Judi B o l d er, J o h n Cle m e n t s ,
Mich a e l Coc k m a n , Ag M a c K e i th, R o b i n Palme r
Editor
Ag MacKeith
South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk
Advertising Manager
Michael Cockman
50, St Paul's Crescent OX2 9AG Tel: 07766 317691 Adverts@TheSprout.org.uk
Del i v e r i es
Bhee Bellew and Robin Cox
15 Seacourt Road, OX2 9LD Tel: 790648 Deliveries@TheSprout.org.uk
Copy Date: Copy by 15th of month preceding publication. Earlier submission is
welcome. Later contributions may have to be held over to the next issue.
Advertisements: If you have print-ready advertisements in the correct format the
last day for booking advertising is the 10th of the month preceding publication; in all
other circumstances more advance notice will be needed. For details about exact
sizes, quality requirements, advice on text and help with production, please contact
the Advertising Manager.
Advertising rates:
½ page: 1 issue £56; 3 issues £135; 5 issues £182; 10 issues; £308
¼ page: 1 issue £28; 3 issues £67.50; 5 issues £91; 10 issues; £154
1/8 page: 1 issue £14; 3 issues £33.75; 5 issues £45.50; 10 issues; £77
Subscriptions: If you live outside North Hinksey Parish you can still receive The
Sprout on a regular basis. Just take out a postal subscription only £12 per annum,
delivered to your door. Contact: Carol Kramer 01865 243002.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this
newsletter, mistakes may happen. The Editor and Team apologize unreservedly for
any errors that may occur and will do their best to correct them. This publication is not
a vehicle of the parish council, and parish councillors working with the Sprout do so in
a personal capacity. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual
contributors.
All concerned in the production and delivery of The Sprout are unpaid volunteers.
The S p r out i s p r inted b y Dat a p r i nt Lt d , a nd pu b l i s hed b y N o rth
Hin k s e y Paris h P u blica t i o n s L t d , (a c o m p a n y li m i t e d by
gua r a n t e e) R e g i strat i o n No. 0 5 6 0 9 5 35 .
It c a n a lso b e foun d o n line a t B otley H i n k sey.org.uk
The Sprout
Issue 153, Winter 2020
Contents
3 Letters to the Editor
7 Football in the Year of Covid
13 Farmers Market
15 Kennington Memory Club
17 Taking Winter Pictures
21 Oxford XVth Scouts
22 Pull-out Covid help poster
24 Christmas Hamper
25 Hamper Request Form
27 CoE Christmas Services
29 Covid Quiz
33 End of Term Report
35 Oxford Foodbank
36 Planning Applications
37 Carp for Christmas
39 Manna from Anna
41 Staying Well in Winter
42 Randoms
43 Local organizations
From the Editor
We hardly dared hope that Lockdown2 would be lifted in time for the
Sprout to go to print, but so it is. Perhaps Christmas will be
happening too, after all! Certainly, the Church of England has plans in
place for Christmas services (p27), and the XVth Scouts managed to
write a report, despite having their fingers firmly crossed (p21).
Kennington Memory Club is back in action (p15), though not sure who
will dare to come, and the Oxford Foodbank says that the Big
Christmas Lunch will go ahead, even if it has to be as a takeaway
(p35). The Foodbank, the Community Fridge and the Larder will be
combining to provide Christmas hampers for some 80 or more local
households feeling the pinch (p24) and we are invited to provide
treats and presents. If your family would appreciate some festive
cheer in these bleak times, the form is on page 25. There’s also a
revised version of the pull-out poster with names and addresses for
Covid help on page 22. Mike Bartlam has provided a Covid Quiz to lift
the spirits (p29) and Chris Andrews has some hints for taking Winter
photographs, and a festive special offer (p17). Our next issue will be
in February 2021. Happy Christmas, one and all!
Ag MacKeith
Letters to the Editor
Willow Walk Bridge
Please could you kindly print an appeal to your readers/local
residents/historians regarding the origins and date, etc., of the 5-arch
stone bridge at the south end of Willow Walk in North Hinksey. A
Google search only seems to identify the proposed flood plain project.
My husband and I enjoyed a lovely walk through there today in the
November sunshine, and I am ashamed to admit that when he (a
Somerset lad) asked me the above questions, I was unable to tell him,
despite having been born in North Hinksey in 1941 and lived there until
1962! I only live in Abingdon now, so not too far away from my origins.
Ann Ford (nee Trinder)
Environmental issues
The long report from the Parish Council’s Environment & Wellbeing
Committee in the November Sprout nevertheless omitted some points
that may be of interest to parishioners. The funding for the actions
described came out of a whopping inflationary 9.9% increase this last
year in the Parish Precept, paid by all, but about which we were not
consulted.
With the award-winning and well-staffed Low Carbon West Oxford
organisation (www.lowcarbonwestoxford.org.uk) active in the same
areas, and on our doorstep, one may question the need to try to
duplicate its actions. Many of the objectives have already been listed in
the Neighbourhood Plan, which is a part of the planning system. Some
of the budget (£3000) paid for the “Botley Green Day” – yet Cumnor and
West Oxford residents of Botley contributed nothing towards it, and
there was little on show about how to reduce our energy footprint or
sustainable alternatives. The Parish Council should be supporting Low
Carbon West Oxford, not wasting money in trying to set up a rival
organisation.
Given that the need for greater action and involvement to protect the
environment is not in dispute, why is our Parish Council spending more
than £13,000 in trying to evict the 4th Oxford Scouts, part of an
organisation which has respect for nature at the heart of its message to
young people, from their Scout Hut on Arnold’s Way?
Andrew Pritchard
4
A letter to 4th Oxford Scouts
In the context of Dr Pritchard’s comments above, readers may be
interested to read this open letter from the Parish Council to the 4th
Oxford Scouts which has also been sent to the Sprout:
“I am writing on behalf of North Hinksey Parish Council to remind
Trustees of the offer of a one-year peppercorn rent lease as originally
offered on 13th July 2020, with a deadline for signing this lease of 26th
November 2020.
We hope that the Scouts do sign that lease, allowing for continued use
of the Louie Memorial Playing Fields as your Group headquarters after
31st December 2020.
We would also like to reiterate our offer to meet with Scout
representatives to restart discussions towards a mutually acceptable
longer-term solution.”
Yours sincerely, Sharon Henley, NHPC Clerk
[As a matter of record, at the time of going to press, 4th Oxford Scouts’
response was to refuse to sign the lease, and risk eviction from their hut
at the end of this year. It is hard to see what this would achieve for the
Parish Council, or for the Scouts, so let us hope good sense will prevail.
It is becoming clear that nothing will persuade the Scouts to share the
new pavilion proposed by the parish council. But, since the version for
which planning approval was granted last year was designed to
accommodate their needs, this suggests the whole project will need to
be looked at again. It’s high time the matter was sorted, as it continues
to cost a good deal of time and money, which neither party can afford.
The Sprout will be reporting on the whole messy business as soon as
things become clearer.]
5
Football in the Year of Covid
It has been the best of times. It has been occasionally a rather trying
time. Embedded into the fabric of Botley and run by a group of
dedicated, accredited lovers of football from the area, Botley Boys and
Girls Football Club has been able to provide a vital resource to children,
giving them the physical activity and companionship that they have
desperately needed in
a time of isolation.
Community is a word
that is very easily used
but requires a particular
mix of dedication and
compromise to deliver.
The club stands for that
very real community.
“The thing about
football, the important
thing about football, is
that it isn't just about
football,” wrote Terry
Pratchett wisely,
although no fan of the
game himself.
As it left the first
lockdown in July, Botley
Boys and Girls FC
immediately
recommenced training in groups of six, despite the 2019/20 season
being effectively over. The coaches coached for the love of it and
because they could see the children in their care desperately needed it.
Paying close attention to government guidelines on social distancing,
coaches adapted their training sessions to concentrate on shooting and
passing into space rather than tackling. The over-riding importance was
enabling children to play together in the sun in a constructive, controlled
way.
The unique effect of being let out of lockdown meant the 2020/21
season for the club was infused with sheer joy at being able once more
to play the game the children love. Of course, the narrative has not
6
been straightforward for anybody in 2020 and for Botley Boys and Girls
FC it has been no different. The downside came in early November
when the government suspended all grassroots football, even training
amongst children who were at school together. Despite the protests of
key voices in the professional game and expressions of sympathy from
media figures, all football stopped. We hope that by the time you read
this, the season will have begun again, with coaches standing anxiously
on the touchlines for the first weekend of games in December, hoping
their teams remember how to close down the opposition and play out
from the back. It allows us to return to the positive though. The big
success returning slightly later than the other teams has been the
Wildcats. In 2019, The Football Association and SSE (Scottish and
Southern Energy) launched an initiative to encourage girls aged from 5
to 11 to get involved in football. Botley is one of only 200 clubs that have
established an SSE Wildcats group.
Coach Nick Dunn is in charge of around 20 regulars. “The group of girls
has grown beyond our expectations which is fantastic, but also makes
training quite challenging, especially given the age variance within the
group,” he says. Extra volunteers will now help him each week,
although the club still seeks a welfare officer dedicated to the girls.
Other teams are also well subscribed, which brings its own pressures.
The lockdown gave the senior coaching team under Roy Walsh the
opportunity to help establish an U7 side. He and his team were quickly
able to build a core of players and familiarise new coaches with the way
the club and the Oxford Youth League work. Jason McKinlay has now
stepped in to coach the side. “One thing I have learned is patience,” he
says. “The kids all learn and train at different rates, so we try to buddy
up these players to give those with an edge the chance to share and
teach.” McKinlay also managed to get a shirt sponsor in difficult
economic circumstances. NEW AGE ELECTRICAL LTD have
sponsored the kit for the team, who wear it with pride.
So, it is all good bar the interruptions? Well, not quite. The Football
Association’s Level 1 training scheme has been suspended due to
Covid-19, so coaches are having to pass on their skills to the relatively
uninitiated. Historically, the club has been financially supported by local
businesses through sponsorship, but this has been decimated by
changing patterns of commerce exacerbated by the virus outbreak and
the ensuing lockdown. New support is always desperately sought.
7
Meanwhile volunteers have been taking stock of their involvement.
Brendan Byrne, the club’s dedicated, hard-working chairman, will soon
be standing down having run the club, Svengali-like for nearly a decade.
“Grassroots football is totally dependent on volunteers,” he says. “I have
been involved with the club in a committee role now for 8 years and it is
one of the most rewarding things I have done.” Byrne has enabled a
whole generation of our children to play football in a safe and fun
environment, but now that his own son is close to the upper age limit of
the club (to the degree that he’s helping out with the coaching of the
U6s), Byrne senior feels it is time to hand on to the next generation. In
addition, Roy Walsh, the avuncular club secretary, is standing down
from 31 December 2020. “I have absolutely loved and enjoyed the last 3
years with the Club,” says Walsh; part man, part Toby jug. He will
continue to coach the U9 team.
It is tremendously hard to combine the coaching and the administrative
side of the game in an era when the public and professional association
are more conscious than ever of the safety and welfare aspects of
coaching. Botley Boys and Girls Football Club needs a new era of
volunteers from the community, not necessarily motivated by a love of
the game pure and simple, but a desire to help a key community
resource and the knowledge that better you than nobody. Botley Boys
and Girls Football Club has at times this year been the only volunteer-
run organisation in our children’s lives; a love of football its only real
guide. But then, as the man said, “The important thing about football, is
that it isn't just about football." clubsecretaryatbotleyfc@ gmail.com is
the email address for more information.
Tim Abrahams
8
Botley Farmers Market
To my mind, the best thing to have come out of the new
West Way development is Botley’s very own Farmers
Market. (For the pedants among you, I’m not even
going into the apostrophe debate on this one, so am
deliberately omitting this pernickety little bit of
punctuation.)
If you have yet to discover the market you’re in for a good surprise. It
started on 3rd October and is held each Saturday from 10.00am until
4.00pm in Church Way at the Library end of the new development,
come rain or shine. Mostly rain so far. However, the entrepreneurial
stallholders have been organized enough to keep themselves and all
their produce dry despite the wettest October on record.
I won’t try to list and describe every stall, as I hope you’ll enjoy
discovering your own favourites. But a quick survey round my family
reveals the following top picks (you can tell we’re a greedy lot):
Husband – he loves the Natas, i.e. Portuguese custard tarts, stall.
Son makes a beeline for the Empanadas (chicken, pork, and beef
one of each! Obviously the greediest of us all) and says the pork
dumplings from the same stall are amazing.
Grandsons Chocolate stall, especially the beautiful chocolate lollies.
Surely everyone must need a chocolate sheep?
Me I can’t get enough of the delicious Hummus (served with walnut
halves on top), olives, feta, Turkish delight, baklava, etc to remind me of
Greek and Turkish holidays in this time of lockdown.
We regularly buy bread (two bread stalls to choose from), meat (two
butchers), lovely fresh produce from the greengrocer as well as
samosas and onion bhajis for lunch. I told you we were greedy.
There’s a great plant stall where my
eldest grandson and I delight in
naming all the plants. I can
recommend their white Hellebore
called ‘Christmas Carol’ and want to
get more before my neighbour snaps
them all up, she came home with an
armful this week. They sell eggs too.
My Christmas present was recently
9
purchased from the jewellery stall (I like to pick my own) and it is not
only beautiful but handmade. In addition there are stalls selling fresh
fish, tasty cheese, cakes, preserves and gin. It’s also a great place to
pick up a street food snack while you’re strolling through, with plenty of
choice from Asian to Spanish cuisines.
Why is a Farmers Market so brilliant? I think it’s the feel-good factor
not only are you giving vital support to local independent traders but
also receiving top-quality goods in return. Extra bonus at the current
time is that it’s in the open air and possibly the only chance to bump into
friends for a quick (masked) chat. See you there! Viv Smith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can we? Can’t we? Will we? Won’t we? Re-open that is!
Whenever we post anything about the plans to re-open Kennington
Memory Club Day Centre sessions we seem to get overtaken by
events. It was all go for the November 12th restart of the sessions when
Lockdown2 was announced. Once the small print of what was and
wasn’t allowed under the new rules had been studied, it appeared that
such support group activities could still go ahead. But members, who
mostly fall into the extremely vulnerable category, were understandably
reluctant to attend, given the recently rising number of Covid 19 cases.
So re-opening plans have been shelved once more until circumstances
become more favourable and members feel more comfortable about
attending the sessions. The Trustees and staff are keen that this should
be as soon as possible. The Club website will be kept updated with the
situation. Go to www.kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk to see the latest.
In the meantime, if you would like to know more about the Club for
yourself or someone you know or care for, or to put someone’s name on
the waiting list, please visit the website and contact Helen, the
organiser, on 07852 883496.
Isobel Birse
10
Taking Winter Pictures
There are great opportunities for interesting pictures in winter, as well as
the occasional challenge! I remember one years ago in the very cold winter
of 1984. I had driven to Bourton on the Water to do one last picture to put in
next year’s Cotswold Calendar. It was a clear day and I left on gritted roads
before dawn in January. Arrived in Bourton, no one about surprise,
surprise! found the view needed, put camera on tripod and got started.
But had to wait ten minutes for the camera to un-fog, the very cold air
condensed immediately onto all the surfaces. At last I was able to work for
a bit and got something useful, then the camera started acting up! The
shutter just refused to work. I turned it on and off even then a remedy,
well before digital but to no avail. I went back to sit in the car. Thought
about it and realised at –20C it was probably the batteries not working, so
took them out and tucked them under my arm. Hey presto! Re-inserted, it
all worked as long as I operated in ten-minute bursts. Eventually I got all I
needed. I hadn’t noticed the cold because I was so layered in thermals, ski
kit, hats etc.
So, winter tips: If you have one, just occasionally try the discipline of using
a tripod. Apart from the advantage of holding the camera steady, it slows
you down and maybe makes you think a little longer about the composition
of the view you want to take. If you
haven’t got a tripod, try resting the
camera on a nearby solid surface,
post, litter bin, etc. It may compromise
the composition, so be aware of your
main interest in the picture and be
prepared to crop and compose the
image on screen, later.
I doubt we shall have such a cold
winter this year, in fact I am sure we
won’t, but do get outside and
photograph in such cool as we have. The stimulation of a cold, clear
morning as the sun rises with frost on the floor and the bright air sharp on
your face is priceless. Gloves are probably a good idea too, and dogs don’t
seem to mind the snow, if we get any (see the photo). If it’s just raining and
11
‘Orrible, go into town at dusk, 4pm-ish maybe, and record the balance of
the dull blue light of the darkening evening skybalanced by the orange
street lights and the bright lights of the shops reflected in the wet
pavements.
Our small photographic and publishing business has been very affected
by the pandemic. And we think the visitor market will not return until the
summer, and even then perhaps only by 50–60%. We do have a bit of
stock: Oxford Calendars, books, Cotswolds publications including a
brand new set of illustrated playing cards and some lovely floral
notelets. You can see them on our web site www.cap-ox.com. If you
email me personally on pictures@cap-ox.com or ring my mobile 07850
399143 quoting The Sprout you can have a 20% discount off any of our
publications (excluding Limited Edition books) – up until 10th December.
And if you are close enough to Botley then we can offer free delivery
in a suitably distanced manner, of course. Chris Andrews
12
Oxford XVth Scouts
Now this article could have taken two forms. It was written in Lockdown
#2, when we were back to Zoom meetings online. But by the time you
read this, and remaining positive, perhaps we’ll be out of lockdown once
again. So here goes…
Oh, it’s good to be back! After many months of online meetings, the
15th Oxford Cubs and Scouts are back together and meeting face-to-
face. Sure, we’re wearing masks, and keeping to 2m social distance but
as an organisation we’ve always been as adaptable and resilient as
necessary to deliver a programme that builds Skills for Life. Now we can
meet up together, we’ll find ways to teach first aid from a distance,
pioneering projects will involve members building different elements that
come together at the end, map skills will be individual so there is
nobody to blame if you get lost (or ‘taking the scenic route’ as we like to
say). We’ll be doing wide games in the fields and woods around Botley
that involve camouflage, sneaking past each other without being seen
or heard, treasure hunts and torch games.
In the few weeks we’d been back at the time of writing, we’d already
done car repair with the Cubs and a photography challenge round
Botley with the Scouts. Hallowe’en saw pumpkin carving, ghost stories
and shadow puppet plays. The jamborees and the district events and
the county camps may be on hold, but we’ll still be working through
badges that culminate in the Chief Scout Silver and Gold awards. There
are plans for a movie night, a mock UN council based around building
your own country, sign language, paper airplanes, and breaking
Guinness World Records.
There is so much planned, and if any of it sounds like something that
your child will be interested in then come and join us. Join our ‘bubble’
and see what Scouting is all about we have spaces. I’m biased of
course but I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. If this is what we get
up to from a socially distanced and sanitized 2m, imagine the
adventures we have on our camping and residential trips, resuming in
2021 we hope! We meet every Friday evening during school term time
at Botley Baptist Church. Cubs is for children aged 8–10.5, Scouts aged
10.5 to 14. Email us for more details: XVOxfordScouts@yahoo.co.uk
Tom Freeman
13
Covid pullout
14
Covid pullout
15
Christmas Hamper for 2020
– can you help?
Donations wanted
Christmas is around the corner and with the global
pandemic it has been a challenging year for many
local households. We are providing hampers for
households on a low income and are looking to our
local community to spread some Christmas cheer.
Can you donate dried food, Christmas treats and/or
wrapped gifts for children or adults (stating appropriate age and sex)
Donations can be dropped off at St Peter and St Pauls Church Hall,
Botley on Monday 21st December from 2-5pm or Tuesday 22nd
December from 10-4pm. If you cannot drop off at these times please e-
mail sue@botleybridges.org to arrange an alternative venue and time.
This is a joint venture between the Community Larder, Food for
Charities and Botley Bridges Family Support, with a grant from Vale of
White Horse District Council and help from lots of volunteers.
Many thanks and a Merry Christmas to you all.
Sue Dowe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tennis is Good for You
We know how important it is for people to
be active, and the role tennis can have in
the physical and mental wellbeing of those
who play it. If you are facing exceptional
and unexpected financial hardship (e.g.
due to unemployment) and would like to
request assistance with membership fees
or coaching for you, or your child, to play
tennis at Oxford Sports LTC contact
tennis@oxfordsportsltc.org explaining the
reason for requiring assistance and what
you are applying for. All information is
treated in the strictest confidence.
Alastair Barr (Membership Secretary)
16
Requesting a Christmas Hamper
We are inviting any families on a low income living in the Botley, North
Hinksey, Cumnor and West Oxford areas to complete a request form so
we can arrange for a lovely Christmas hamper to be ready for you to
collect from St Peter and St Paul Church Hall in Elms Parade, Botley on
Wednesday 23rd December in the afternoon.
If you can’t collect it yourselves, we can deliver it (please make a note
on the form below). Fill in some details about your household so we can
arrange the most suitable hamper for you all. After December 23rd the
information will be deleted in accordance with GDPR . If you can’t fill in
the form online, tear out this page and hand it in at your child’s school.
A hamper contains fresh and dried food and some Christmas treats.
1
First Name
2
Surname
3.
Address and post
code
4
Contact number
5
Number of adults in
the household
6
Age and gender of children in the household ( for gifts)
7
Any specific food requirements – linked to allergies etc
8
Can you pick up the hamper? Yes or No.
(if No we will arrange delivery)
9.
Any other comment – for example are you completing this form for
someone else
Completed forms can be e-mailed to sue@botleybridges.org or handed
in to the school or pre-school your children attend. You can also register
online for a hamper https://forms.gle/NTEmQVSoiJ2AY1Jp8
17
Christmas Services
at St Peter & Paul, Botley,
and St Lawrence, North Hinksey
The pandemic has meant that we are having to find different ways of
celebrating Christmas. Numbers are limited at both churches because
of social distancing. Although we can't be sure what restrictions will be
in place in December, this is what we are currently planning:
Christingle
There will be no Christingle service at church, but do please help us
continue to raise funds for the Children's Society. You can hold your
own Christingle event at home with your family using materials provided
free by the Society. We have also set up a Christingle fund-raising page
for donations to the Society at https://www.give.net/NHBChristingle
If you would like us to order a set of materials and prayers for you,
please let the office know as soon as possible (contact details below). If
you want to order them yourself, they are free from the Children's
Society website https://shop.childrenssociety.org.uk/christingle.html).
Service to remember those we have loved and lost
Our annual remembrance service will be held on Sunday 13 December
at 5.00 pm at St Peter & Paul. If you wish to attend, please contact the
office by December 7th
to reserve a place, as numbers are limited.
Stations of the Nativity
This seasonal variation of the Stations of the Cross will run from
Monday 21 December to Christmas Eve at St Peter & Paul. Pictorial
and prayer resources will be available for private reflection during the
day ending with a short meditative service at 3pm on Christmas Eve.
'Midnight' Services
Traditional 'midnight mass' will take place at both churches at 11.30 pm
on Christmas Eve. Seating is limited so please come in good time.
Please note: These arrangements may have to change depending on
government restrictions. To keep up to date, please follow our Facebook
page ‘SaintsPeterPaulBotley’ (where we will be continuing to post our
regular prayer and worship resources), or contact Gwen at the office on
01865 242057/email: osneybenefice@outlook.com
John Clements (Rev Clare is back on 3rd December)
18
COVID Quiz
Botley residents have recently been subjected to forensic questioning
about their experiences during Lockdown, Tier 1, Tier 2, “just stay and
don’t move, etc.” Share some of these experiences and perhaps match
against your own through our Covid Quiz. Simply tick the answer next
to the statements you think researchers encountered most often.
Lockdown Rules
What are the rules of Tier 2?
a) A lot tougher than Tier 1 or the other way
around.
b) I have to wear a tag.
c) Isn’t it a type of ballet costume.
Games
You have just dusted off your 1,000 piece jigsaw but found one piece
missing. Where did you find it?
a) Under the very last item of heavy furniture you had to move.
b) In the hoover (full).
c) In the dog – eventually.
Redecorating
How many matchpots did you buy during lockdown?
a) Six, all the same, just enough for the downstairs loo.
b) Stopped buying, too many arguments.
c) Dunno, but the dining room is very colourful.
On-line Shopping
What do you think of Amazon?
a) I hate it – I use it all the time.
b) A bit hot and steamy.
c) I wondered why he was so keen to add “Prime” to the account –
the damn rugby!
“Virtual” Family Gatherings
How has the older generation responded to on-line chats?
a) “Grandad, just stop poking the screen, it doesn’t work any bet-
ter”.
b) “Thanks for showing us your ceiling.”
c) “Look, we’ll just give you a call.”
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Reading
So what has it been like to uncover all those unread classics that you
promised yourself to read?
a Never realised Dickens was so boring.
b Perhaps I am a bit old now for the Famous Five.
c So that’s what happened to all my pressed flowers.
Revisiting neglected parts of the
house
And what did you find up in the loft?
a Now I know where I stored all
those apples/home-made
wine.
b So that’s where the builders
put all their rubbish!
c So that’s why the house was
so cold!
New world of exercise
What has it been like to get back to
walking and cycling?
a Good heavens, was my bike always that heavy.
b Now, look here Fitbit, what do you mean I haven’t done 10,000
steps yet, surely hills count double?
c That’s it! I’m not getting soaked any more.
Answers in next month’s edition but because of the all too fashionable
possibility of vote rigging, fraud, miscounts or general cheating, no
prizes will be awarded.
Happy Christmas, possibly!
Mike Bartlam
20
Botley School News
This term at Botley we have been marking
Remembrance and Children in Need, both of
which gave us a chance to come together
once again as a school with the help of
modern technology.
For Remembrance, each class completed
activities following class input, whether making
and understanding the significance of a
Remembrance Wreath, or discussing what the
term ‘sacrifice’ actually means. We marked
the 11th hour with a special whole school
assembly on Microsoft TEAMs and linked to
the BBC broadcast to join the nation in standing for the two minutes’
silence. It is wonderful that technology not only allows us to come
together as a school during this period of greater restrictions, but also to
come together with the wider community and understand that it
stretches across the country and the world.
We followed Remembrance Day with dressing up in spotty clothes to
raise funds for Children in Need on World Kindness Day. Normally we
would hold bake sales and other fundraising ventures on this day,
however, the community gave generously for the mufti day instead and
can be proud of the achievement and spirit with which they raised the
funds for good causes.
Coming up we will be marking National Anti-Bullying Week, joining in a
virtual lantern parade to mark the festivals of light and then turning our
minds to Christmas at the end of term. The restrictions do make school
life more challenging, but we are determined to keep as many of our
annual festivals going in new formats as we can, and to keep our
community together as we head into the winter months.
We are also looking at extending our school community: now is the time
for parents to apply for Reception school places for September 2021.
Our Early Years team have been busy creating a new web page for
parents of new starters (see ‘reception-new-starters’ on the school
website botleyschool.org.uk) and we held our first virtual Open Events
in November. We will be advertising more of these events in December
and into January ahead of the January 15th deadline, so please look
out for the adverts with the dates. Mrs Jo Reid, Headteacher
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Oxford Food Bank – keeping up the good work!
When the UK entered its second lockdown, staff and volunteers at
Oxford Food Bank got to work to ensure that food does not go to waste
when non-essential shops and restaurants are forced to close.
“It has been a strange year for food surplus,” explains manager Cathy
Howard. “When non-essential shops were ordered to close in March we
collected five tons of non-perishable goodies from TKMaxx stores, from
Easter eggs and glittery marshmallows to olive oil and saffron!”
“Then more recently, as cinemas, theatres, vending machine suppliers
and other leisure outlets reduced or closed their operations, we have
received many donations of crisps, fizzy drinks, jelly sweets, fudge and
chocolate raisins. We’ve been very grateful to the Ashmolean gift shop,
Oxford Playhouse, The New Theatre and David Lloyd gym, amongst
many others. Health-conscious volunteers sometimes turn up their
noses at sugary junk, but food has emotional value as well as nutritious,
and these treats have helped to make a lot of people happy in difficult
times.”
Oxford Food Bank is well supplied with fresh fruit and vegetables thanks
to recent deliveries from pubs and restaurants including The Trout, The
Barley Mow at Clifton Hampden, The Bear and Ragged Staff in Cumnor
and the King’s Arms in Sandford on Thames. The sudden
announcement of a second lockdown in November took many
professional kitchens by surprise, leaving surplus fresh fruit and veg in
need of a home.
2020 has also been a strange year for the Food Bank’s 100+ charities
as well, with many organisations changing their pattern of food
distribution to allow for Covid safety. Oxford Food Bank administrator,
Emma Tinker, explains, “Some charities that used to serve a regular sit-
down lunch to people crowded around small tables have realised that
this just won’t work now. So they have started cooking food to serve as
takeaways, or putting together bags of food to deliver to people at
home. We’ve also seen more charities coming to us, as groups like
community fridges have stepped up their operations to support the
wider community. People who were financially stable a year ago are
suddenly struggling, and many of our charities have adapted very fast to
cope with that.”
Meanwhile, plans for Christmas continue to evolve. For several years
the Oxford Food Bank has supported the Oxford Christmas Lunch,
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whose lead organiser, Sara Strong (also an OFB volunteer), told us:
“with our venue the King’s Centre mothballed, we can’t hold our usual
Christmas Day lunch, which in 2019 was attended by over 600 guests
and volunteers. So for 2020 we’re organising a Christmas Day lunch
delivery to anyone in Oxfordshire who’s going to be alone, in food
poverty or in any other way in need. We’ll once again be cooking with
food from Oxford Food Bank that would otherwise have gone to waste,
and passing on additional fresh ingredients for recipients to enjoy at
home.
Oxford Food Bank often has a sudden last-minute influx of food
ingredients as supermarkets close for the Christmas Break, but many
charities also close for the holiday and so can’t use the surplus. Oxford
Christmas Lunch works with Oxford Food Bank, the King’s Centre and
other local businesses to cook the food and get it to those who need it
most.” “We’re still here,” says volunteer Jude Carroll. “As long as
there’s food surplus coming from anywhere, we’ll carry on finding
somewhere for it to go. To find out more, visit
https://oxfordfoodbank.org/
Cathy Howard
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P20/V2554/HH
28 Hurst Rise Rd. Demolish rear sitting
area & erect single storey rear extension +
loft conversion.
5 October
P20/V2687/HH 6 Hazel Rd. Single storey rear extension. 16 October
P20/V2753/LDP 32 Lime Rd. Lawful Development
Certificate for change of use from single
dwelling to small HMO.
23 October
P20/V2759/HH 21 & 22 Hawthorn Close. Single storey
rear extension to create large kitchen
diner at both properties.
26 October
P20/V2762/T28 32A Lime Rd. Installation of 1 x 8m
wooden pole (6.2m above ground).
26 October
P20/V2700/FUL Land Adjacent to Matthew Arnold School.
Convert existing barn with extension to
single family dwelling.
27 October
P20/V2832/HH 42 North Hinksey Lane. Two storey side
extension and loft conversion.
3 November
P20/V2845/A Botley Centre West Way 1 x internally
illuminated fascia sign.
6 November
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Waiter, waiter, there’s a big fish in my tub!
If your household is anything like ours, the holiday period at the end
of December 2020 will be somewhat different: downright subdued.
As our customary invasion by six family members from Prague sadly
won't be happening this year, I thought I'd brighten the gap with an
account of what it would be like if
we were all together over there.
First of all, the dates: Christmas
Eve is the Main Event. For most of
December 24th, restraint is the
keynote. According to legend, if
you fast all day, a golden pig a
good omen for the year to come
will visit the home in the evening.
Although few are that strict these
days, many do eat a light, meatless
lunch. By evening, however, it is
time for the most festive dinner of
the year. The first course is a
particular and filling fish soup
necessitating – as I know to my cost
exacting preparation. This is
followed by the traditional main dish: carp fried in breadcrumbs,
with potato salad. Now therein lies a tale.
Since the 15th Century, carp breeding has been a significant feature
of the South Bohemian economy. In the run-up to Christmas, local
markets all over the Czech lands stock large live carp in big vats.
Traditionally, you took your carp home live, keeping it in the bathtub
until the 24th, when it met its fate (any query I broached about what
effect this might have had on bathing habits invariably was met with
a discreet smirk). I have it on good authority that the capital's
residents no longer observe, but that the practice of sharing your tub
with a big fish does continue in the provinces.
One interesting footnote to this practice so different from our own
is that the reason Czechs give for choosing carp is “because it
wasn't considered to be meat. Christmas Eve in our country is still
considered to be part of a fasting period. So carp is one of the
dishes that are allowed...It was cheap; it was available to the poorer
parts of society. Noble folk used to consume poultry, wild game and
so on. Carp was eaten by monks and nuns in monasteries and also
by peasants...to eat fish was not to break the fast, and virtually
every Czech family could afford to serve carp.”
Exchanging gifts, too, is the province of the 24th, with everyone
hoping all the while to catch a glimpse of the golden pig.
We've found that generally even the youngest, most modern,
Czechs enthusiastically keep all these Christmas Eve traditions
though on the 25th – in a more laid-back atmosphere – they do also
enjoy a copious family meal featuring a large roast bird. Hence, like
us, by Christmas evening everyone is replete, if not groaning
though possibly still peeping behind the curtains in search of that
elusive pig.
Of course, Carp at Christmas is not unique to the Czech Republic
and Slovakia. It’s also traditional in Poland, and possibly other
Slavic areas, too. So it would be interesting to hear details from any
of the many Poles and people of Polish descent people in our area.
Ruth Cameron
Manna from Anna
This kind and modest woman has had the most amazing variety of jobs:
data researcher for a magazine; auxiliary midwife; Bishops (pre-
Budgens and pre-Coop); youth worker and then manager of a charity;
on the 111 non-emergency hotline; florist and now Anna Antell runs
the Manna Café in the new shopping precinct, where she puts her
previous experience to good use, providing much more than cups of tea
and slices of cake.
Like her café, Anna is a true
local. She was born in
Oxford, moved to Botley
when she was eight years
old, and went to Botley
primary school and Matthew
Arnold. Two of Anna’s
daughters Megan and
India grew up locally and
now work at the café.
Recently Anna completed a
celebrant’s course, and this
year she officiated at her
first wedding ceremony in
the West Way roof terrace
room.
The idea of having a café linked to the Baptist Church started about ten
years ago. Anna’s family has been very involved with the church, and
the minister asked whether she would be interested in running the café.
The idea was that the church would provide the space for a café rent-
free until the café was doing well enough to pay rent. The café started
in August 2018 with furniture collected from car boot sales and a menu
that focuses on affordable comfort food: soup, potatoes, shepherd’s pie,
Greek food, sourdough toast…
Then came the redevelopment of West Way and a temporary move to
the Grant Thornton building, then another move to the café’s current
position next to the new Seacourt Hall. Then there was Lockdown 1,
then Lockdown 2. It is a testament to Anna’s determination that the
Manna Café still exists, although at the time of writing it was only doing
a take-away service due to lockdown restrictions.
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Anna’s philosophy is that the cafe should look after everyone, not just
the people who come every day for lunch and some company. So she
takes breakfast and soup to Field House, and offered free food to
children missing free school meals during half-term. She has also
teamed up with Food for Charities to provide food parcels to people in
need.
Much of what she does at the café involves listening to people and
acting like an agony aunt. Anna understands what it’s like to be ill: she
is a breast cancer survivor. She also knows what it’s like to be poor: the
café had not been going for long enough for her to go onto the furlough
scheme during the first lockdown. So she did a lot of crafting: for
instance she made 250 crochet rainbows!
The Botley Notice Board gives an indication of just how much Anna and
the Manna Café are valued. Here is a sample comment:
“Dear Anna-Manna Cafe! I just wanted to write a little note to tell you
just how fabulous you and your staff have been. Especially during the
Covid period! You have gone out of your way to help and support
people within the Botley community.
When I walk past I see your
regulars in the cafe, chatting and
smiling. You bring light to their day
and help the vunerables from
feeling lonely and isolated. Thank
you to you and the team for
providing this valuable service
within the Botley community.”
The photo shows Anna holding a
picture made for her as a thank
you.
Riki Therivel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Erratum
Apologies for calling the
Combined Sewage Overflow an
‘Outfall’ in last month’s article on
Sewage. It looked so right at the
time! Ed.
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Keeping Well This Winter
Cold weather can make some health problems worse and even lead
to serious complications, especially if you are 65 or older, or if you
have a long-term health condition.
You can get help and advice from:
a) a pharmacy – pharmacists can give treatment advice for a range
of minor illnesses and can tell you if you need to see a doctor
b) your GP – you may be able to speak to a GP online or over the
phone, or go in for an appointment if they think you need to
c) NHS 111 go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111 if you have an urgent
medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.
The poster on page 22 has all the contacts you need for local help.
Get a flu vaccine
Flu will often get better on its own, but it can make some people
seriously ill. It's important to get the flu vaccine if you're advised to.
It's offered every year on the NHS to help protect people at risk of
flu and its complications. If you're 65 or over, you are also eligible
for the pneumococcal vaccine, which will help protect you from
pneumonia.
Keep your home warm
Follow these tips to keep you and your family warm and well at
home: if you're not very mobile, are 65 or over, or have a health
condition, such as heart or lung disease, heat your home to at least
18C. Have at least one hot meal a day – eating regularly helps keep
you warm. Have hot drinks regularly. Draw curtains at dusk and
keep doors closed to block out draughts, and get your heating
system checked regularly by a qualified professional. Put babies to
sleep in rooms heated to between 16C and 20C. Citizens Advice
can help you if you’re struggling with heating costs.
Look in on vulnerable neighbours and relatives
Check on older neighbours and relatives, especially if they have
breathing (respiratory) problems, to make sure they: are safe and
well and warm enough, especially at night. Have they got stocks of
food and medicines so they do not need to go out during very cold
weather? If worried, get local help via our Covid poster (p22). If
you're concerned that someone has hypothermia, contact NHS 111.
Sourced from the NHS website by the Botley and Kennington
Patients Participation Group.
Randoms
Thank you from the Botley community fridge
THANK YOU! to all the wonderful people who have been donating food
at the Coop, which goes to Food for Charities / Botley Community
Fridge. We deliver about one third of it to people experiencing
homelessness: they particularly like chocolate-flavoured cereal, fish,
anything with meat in it, and toiletries (anything except shower gel
which we have loads of). Another third goes into parcels for people in
need, some local and some in east Oxford. Some parcel recipients have
small children, others have special dietary requirements, so each parcel
gets packed specifically for that household, but biscuits are always a
favourite. The last third gets put onto the ‘in need’ shelving at the
community fridge, and into food parcels that are given out at the Manna
Café, so that none of our neighbours has to go hungry. Additional food
for all this comes from the Oxford Food Bank, surplus non-perishables
from the Community Larder (the Community Fridge gives its surplus
fresh food to the larder), Oxford Mutual Aid and other donations. We are
very lucky to have such a supportive local community and a good
network of food organisations in Oxford. If you or anybody you know
needs a food parcel, please fill in the form at
https://forms.gle/TvjuHd78HRgjxNYW9 and the Larder or Fridge will get
one to you. Riki Therivel
Greening the Planet – tree planting on 6th December
Botley, like everywhere else, has a part to play if we are to pull back
from the worst effects of climate change. An easy win is to plant trees,
wherever and whenever we can. Cllr Chris Church is leading a session
planting some woodland trees around the edges of the rugby ground at
the end of North Hinksey Lane. Everyone is welcome to join in, so if you
want to help, contact Chris on chrischurch@cooptel.net, or just turn up,
spade in hand, at the Rugby Ground on Sunday at noon. See you there!
University of the 3rd Age
Talks are on Zoom for the duration. None in December, but in January
‘The Art of WW2’ on 11th, and ‘the Salt Routes’ on 25th. Details on
www.westoxfordu3a.org.uk, where you can find out about all the other
things they do. If you’re not a member, it only costs £5 from January to
September 2021, so it’s definitely worth joining. Hugh Manson
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Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details to
editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Jean Metson,
firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
Scout Hall, Arnolds Way; mail@thefourth.org.uk
Website: http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, 1 Church Way, Botley
Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)
07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Baby & Toddler Group Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Badminton Club
Thurs 7-8pm at Matthew Arnold Sports Hall. Garry Clark 0777
3559 314 garryclark13@gmail.com
BikeSafe. B4044 community
path campaign
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8 weeks.
Contact via website B4044path.org
Books on Wheels R.V.S. Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Jason Barley Ox. 242926 jbarley1@sky.com or Brendan
Byrne 792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Botley Community Larder
Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at St P&P Church Hall, West Way,
contact us via Facebook or email botleylarder@gmail.com
Botley Health Walks
Wednesday 9.30am. Contact Briony on Ox 246497
Botley Library
01865 248142. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Seniors Lunch Club
Every other Thursday. Seacourt Hall. Viv Smith 01865
241539 or Jackie Warner 01865 721386
Botley Singers
Thur 7.30, St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court. Angela Astley-
Penny Ox.242189 angastpen@aol.com
Cumnor Choral Society
Rehearsals Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795 054142
or www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett 862788
www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District
Historical Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old School.
01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or phone 01865 721026
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton village hall. C. Casson 01235 831352
or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org, call
863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Let’s Sing! – singing group Weds 2pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or email
emformusic@outlook.com
Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
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North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare clubs
Mon–Fri 7.45am–6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group Weds 10 – 12.00 W.I. Hall Tel: Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr 07798743121
voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of Annual Cricket Match & Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council Sharon Henley, clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
N Hinksey Youth Club
Weds at LM pavilion, Daz on 07791 212866 or see F’book
Oxford Flood Alliance R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxford Flower Arranging Club 4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: 01865 865259
Oxford Harmony Men's Acap-
pella singing group
Meets Wednesdays 7.45 pm at Seacourt Hall, Contact
pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays, twice
monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis
Club, N Hinksey
Family club: Melanie Riste 848658
melanie_riste@hotmail.com
Raleigh Park, Friends of raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Saturdads at
Botley Bridges
Fun activities and trips for Dads and under 5’s
10 am–noon 1st Sat of month. Tel: 243955
Seacourt Hall Management
Committee
Michael Cockman 07766 317691
michael.cockman@gmail.com.
Shotokan Karate Club 6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450
Walking for Health
2nd & 4th Saturdays 9.50 Louie Memorial Field car park,
Arnolds Way. Alan 07941 610913
West Oxford Bowls Club Contact details on www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk
West Oxford Taekwon Do Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall 01865
570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A (Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
West Way Day Centre
Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Women’s Institute (Botley) Liz Manson, 244175 or liz.manson@virginmedia.com
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall Banso tel:
07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
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Halls for Hire
Bot l e y B aptis t H a l l
West Wa y Plac e
Cont a c t : Rev K a l y an Da s
Tel. 0 7 8 4 1 8679 6 7
The R o s a ry Ro o m
Yarn e l l s Hill , E l ms Ri s e
Cont a c t Maria B r o w n,
Tel: 0 1 8 6 5 2479 8 6 .
SS P e t e r & P a u l C hurch
Hal l , Wes t Way, Bot l e y
Cont a c t : 0 7 9 4 6 4 6 3 7 4 1 or
osn e y b e n efice @ o u t look . c o m .
Women's I n s t itute H a l l,
Nor t h H i nksey L a n e
Cont a c t : Val Wa r n e r
Tel. 0 1 8 6 5 2452 7 3
Sea c o u r t Hal l , We s t
Wa y Pla c e , Botle y
Contact: Lottie White on 07452 960100,
or email admin@seacourthall.org.uk
Pav i l i o n, Arn o l d s Way,
Elm s R i s e, Bo t l e y
Cont a c t : Darr e n B l ase 2 4 1 2 5 4
louiememorialpavilion@gmail.com
Oxf o r d R u gby Clu b ,
Nor t h H i nksey Vill a g e
Contact:. Mary Bagnall
mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.
North Hinksey & Botley Churches
Times of Services (once resumed) and Contacts
St. L a w rence, Churc h o f Engl a n d , N o r th Hi n k s e y Lane
1st, 2nd, 4th Sunday, Sung Eucharist 11.30 a . m .
3rd S u n d ay, Matin s 11.30 a m
St. P e t e r and St. P a u l , Chu r c h o f En g l a n d , West Way
2nd Saturday each Month, 4–6pm Messy Church for children and their carers
1st Sunday of the Month, 9.30am All Age service of Holy Communion
All other Sundays, 9.30am Holy Communion with activities for children
Every Wednesday, 10.30am Holy Communion at Field House
Rev C l a r e S y k e s , Tel. 0 1 8 6 5 242 3 4 5 or r e vclare @ b t inter n e t . c om
Our L a d y of t h e Ros a r y C hurch , R o man C a t h o lic , Yarne l l s Hill
Sat u r d a y 6.3 0 pm. M a s s
Sun d a y 9.1 5 am Ma s s
Fr D a n i e l L l o y d . 0758 4 3 2 3915 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
Bot l e y B aptis t Chur c h , West Wa y Pla c e
Sun d a y Ser v i c e 10. 3 0 am.
Mid Week H o use G r o u p 8.00 p .m.
Fam i l y Wo r s h i p S e r v i c e 5-6p m on S a t u r d ay
Rev K a l y an D a s 07841 8 6 7 967 w w w.bot l e y b aptis t c h u rch.or g
Cal v a r y Ch a p e l
Sun d a y serv i c e s held a t B otley S c h o ol 1 0 . 3012 n o o n
Pas t o r P hilip Vi c k e r y 018 6 5 8 6 4 4 9 8
calvarychapeloxford@yahoo.co.uk; www.calvarychapeloxford.org.uk
32
Sprout
Winter 2020
Sunday 6th December, tree planting
on the Rugby Grounds at 12 noon.
Some useful phone numbers
See North Hinksey Parish Council website for a comprehensive list of all the
local support groups currently in operation, as well as advice on asking for
help and looking to volunteer. It’s at https://northhinksey-pc.gov.uk/covid-19-
community-hub/ If you have something to add, please email the website
manager Councillor Lorna Berrett on lberrett.nhpc@gmail.com. All your
local parish councillors’ contact details are on the website too, so if you
need help, you can ask any of them and they will rally round.
Church contact details are on the inside back cover.
Oxford Hub’s email is: hello@oxfordtogether.org
Phone: 07957 105129 (9-5pm Mon-Fri)
Citizens Advice Adviceline on 0300 3309 042
Woodlands Pharmacy: 01865 242649
Lloyds Pharmacy: 01865 247023
Age UK Oxfordshire offers a new telephone support line for older people.
Leave a message on 01865 411288 and they will call you back.
Nextdoor North Hinksey is a local chatroom full of help and advice. Anyone
already on it can invite you to join, or contact the Sprout
Finally, two handy Facebook pages:
The Botley Notice Board (OXON)
and Oxford Covid-19 Mutual Aid group
and see centre pages for a pull out poster of useful addresses
33